Repeating mechanism for projecting machines



July 9, 1935. B. A. PROCTOR 2,007,214

REPEATING MECHANISM FOR PROJECTING MACHINES Original Filed No). 28. 12252 Sheets-Sheet 1 avwemtoz Ba /i017 A Pmo ton B. A. PROCTOR 2,007,214

REPEATING MECHANISM FOR PROJECTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 9,1935.

Original Filed Nov. 28. 1925 gnvembo-z Patented July 9, 1935 UNITEDSTATES REPEATING MECHANISM FOR PROJECTING MACHI NES Barton AllenProctor, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to Kinatome Patents tion of New YorkCorporation, a corpora- Refiled for abandoned application Serial No.

71,887, November 28,

1925. Renewed April 19,

1930. This application November 8, 1932, Serial 8 Claims.

This application is refiled for my abandoned application Serial No.71,887, filed November 28, 1925, and renewed April 19, 1930.

The present invention relates to projecting machines, and is moreparticularly directed toward a projecting machine which is designedautomatically to repeat the exhibition of a picture. The picture ispassed through the projector to be exhibited, and is then automaticallyre-rolled so that it may again be exhibited.

The projector is preferably operated by an electric motor which runs allthe time. This motor drives, through suitable gear trains or pulleys, apair of shafts which are placed adjacent to the 3 shafts carrying thereels of film, and clutches are provided so that one motor driven shaftmay be connected to the corresponding reel shaft at the same time thatthe other is disconnected. The shifting of these clutches alternatelydrivingly to connect the reel shafts to the motor is a convenient methodof accomplishing the re-rolling of the film. To insure satisfactoryoperation, it is desirable that this clutching and declutching beaccomplished positively and at the right i time.

While there are various manners in which this re-rolling operation maybe controlled, the present invention relates, more particularly, tocontrolling it by means of instrumentalities carried I near the ends ofthe film which cooperate with movable members or contacts carriedadjacent the movable film.

According to the present invention, devices to be actuated at the timethe film is to be reversed are under the control of some instrumentalitycarried by and moving with the film. A variation in the otherwiseregular dimensions of the film is utilized to set in motion the clutchshift ing mechanism. This may be brought about electrically ormechanically. Where contacts are utilized, the electrical circuits ofelectromagnetically operated clutch shifting mechanism may be made andbroken by cams or other de- ;vices arranged near the ends of the film.

Motion picture film is ordinarily made of thin transparent material suchas celluloid, and a reel of such film, after a relatively small amountof use, is likely to be broken at one or more points. Such breaks areordinarily repaired by overlapped joints, commonly called patches in theart. A feature of my invention resides in the provision of a film havingone or more predeterminedly positioned control portions of the filmthicker than usual patches and a control mechanism disposed at pointsalong the film path and arranged to be actuated by such thickenedportions of the film, and having means for passing ordinary film patchesby without being actuated by such patches.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of a special formor type of film suitable for use with an automatically reversingprojecting machine.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a filmwhose end portions differ in some manner from the remainder of the film,and to provide a mechanism, electrical or mechanical, for accomplishingthe reversal of the film when the end portion of the film comes 01f thecorresponding reel.

Means for defining a portion of the film path at the optical axis of aprojecting machine is an essential part of such a machine. Such pathdefining means is commonly called a gate and usually includes a fixedpath defining member and a yieldingly mounted member arranged forpressing the film against said fixed member. Another feature of myinvention resides in the provision of a predeterminedly positionedcontrol portion of the film which is thick enough to actuate cooperatingcontrol mechanism, and thin enough to pass such mechanism withoutcausing excessive strain on the film.

A further feature of my invention resides in the provision of apredeterminedly positioned control element on the film integrally joinedthereto whereby it may be passed by such control mechanism as ismentioned above in operative engagement therewith without danger ofbeing detached from the film.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent as thedescription proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating theinvention, several of the many possible embodiments in which theinvention may take form, it being understood that the invention may beembodied in various other forms, and that the drawings are illustrativeof the invention rather than limiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a projecting machine with parts insection and showing an electrical clutch-shifting mechanism;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the control means of the invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the form of contact mechanism shown inFigure 2, and taken on the line 3-4 thereof;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a usual projector gate and athickened control portion of the film.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing ordinary film between thecontrol members.

The mechanism for carrying out the clutchshifting operation, as shown inFigures 1 to 5 of the present drawings, may be in the form ofelectromagnetic devices which are actuated in response to contactmechanisms so disposed that they may be controlled by suitableinstrumentalities carried near the ends of the film.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, a pair of film reels I0 and II are carriedon reel shafts I2 and I3, suitably mounted on a vertical plate I4 sothat the film F may be transferred from one reel to the other. top of atable or platform I5. An electric motor I6 is suitably mounted on theplatform I5 behind the plate I 8, and this motor is drivingly connectedwith a worm wheel I'I carried on a shaft I8 in line with the reel shaftI3. This shaft is mounted in bearings in an upright standard I9, andcarries a spur gear 29, which meshes with a pinion 2I carried on a shaft22, also supported from the standard I9. This shaft 22 carries a pulley23, and a belt 24 drivingly connects this pulley with a pulley 25carried on a shaft 26. This upper shaft 26 is supported in a bracket 26so as to be in line with the reel shaft I2.

As here shown,-the upper shaft 26 carries a sliding collar 21 providedwith pins 28, which pass through a flange 29 integral with the shaft 26.When this collar is moved toward the left, the pins 28 are enabled toengage with pins 36 carried on the inner end of the reel shaft I2, so asto drivingly connect the shafts 26 and I2. The shaft I8 is also providedwith a similar sliding collar 3|, which has pins 32 passing through theflange 33 and engageable with abutments 34 carried on the lower reelshaft I3. As the step-by-step mechanism for advancing the film forms nopart of the present invention, it is omitted from the drawings.

As is well known by those skilled in the corn struction and use ofpicture projecting machines, it is usual to employ film guiding means insuch machines which dispose the film in operative relation to the usualstep-by-step film advancing mechanisms as well as hold the film incooperative relation with the source of light for projection purposes.In Figure 4 a diagram.- matic representation of a film guiding gatecommonly used in projecting machines is shown for purposes ofillustrating certain advantageous features of the present invention.Such a gate usually includes a fixed gate section I90 and a movable gatesection I9I which may be hingedly mounted in a well known way formovement away from the fixed gate section to open position for threadingthe film through the-gate in a usual way. The movable section isthereafter moved up to operative position against the fixed gate sectionto press the film between the sections.

The movable gate section I9I is commonly urged against the fixed gatesection i I99 by yielding means such as a light spring I92. Such a gateas is' shown in Figure 4 is placed intermediate the reels I0 and II at asuitable point along the film path for cooperation with the optical axisof the apparatus. Usual means (not shown) may guide the film into andout of the gate.

This plate I4 is mounted on The mechanism which compensates for thevarying diameter of the roll of film on the takeup reel, consistsessentially of a slip clutch and is indicated generally by the referencecharacter 35.

It will thus be apparent that the motor I6 may be drivingly connectedwith either of the shafts I2 or I3 so as to wind the film onto the reelcarried by the driven shaft. The gear trains are so proportioned thatthe film rewinds onto the upper reel more rapidly than it is wound ontothe lower reel when being exhibited.

A convenient mechanism for simultaneously shifting the clutches 21 and3| so as to alternately connect the motor to the shafts, is shown in thedrawings. Here the lower collar 3I is connected by a yoke 36 with ahollow vertical shaft 31 which extends down below the platform I5, whilethe upper collar 2'! is connected by a similar yoke 38 with a shaft 39,which passes.

down through the inside of the shaft 31. These shafts are suitablymounted in bearings 40 and ll carried by the framework of the-machine.The shifting of the clutches may be accomplished by quickly moving oneof these shafts in one angular direction and the other in the oppositedirection.

According to the preferred form of the invention illustrated in Figures2 and 3, the ends of the film F are loaded with strips I82 and I83 whichserve to thicken the film. The strips may be secured to the film bysmall pin members of a well known kind, or by cementing in a well knownway, if the strips are made of celluloid as they ordinarily would be bythose skilled in the art. The front plate I4 of the machine carriescontact mechanism which is to be actuated by the movement of the film.As here shown, a pair of levers 84 and 85 are pivotally mounted on asupport 86 insulatively carried by the front plate. These levers areprovided with small rollers 81 and 88 at their free ends, and theserollers are urged toward one another by a small coiled spring 89, placedbetween the levers. To prevent the rollersfrom pressing against the filmitself, they are provided with flanges 96 which limit the movement ofthese parts. It can be seen by inspection of Figures 3 and 5 that thediameters of the flanges 98 relative to the diameters of the rollers 81and 88 and to the thickness of the film F are such that when the flanges96 are engaged one against the other as shown in Figure 5, a clearanceconsiderably greater than the thickness of the film is provided betweenthe rollers 81 and 88. This clearance is such that the film M may passfreely between the rollers 81 and 88 in contact with only one roller.Sufiicient space is left between the other roller and the adjacentsurface of the film to permit slight inequalities in the thickness ofthe film to pass between the rollers 81 and 88 without causing anystrain on the film or causing operative movement of the contact 84.Slight inequalities in the thickness of a motion picture film are oftencaused by patches, i. e., where overlapping end portions of the film arefastened together, usually by cementing, to repair breaks in the film.The thickness of such patches does not usually exceed and is commonlyless than twice the thickness of the film since the overlapping ends areusually scraped. It is an advantageous feature of my invention toprovide .control means actuated by' the film which will correspondingwith each contact and which remain in circuit as long as the contactsare closed, it is preferable to provide supplemental contacts which areopened when the magnets function, thereby preventing overheating of themagnets and unnecessary current consumption. As an illustrativeembodiment of such a control, I have herein shown, and will nowdescribe, an arrangement utilizing an oscillating armature and switchcontact. Many other arrangements may, of course, be used.

As shown in Figure 2, the incoming current supply leads are shown at 56and 51. The lead 51 is connected by wires 93 and 94 to the movablecontacts 9| of the switches. The fixed contact 92 of the upper switch asviewed in new Figure 2 connected by a wire 95 with a magnet coil 59, theother side of which is connected by a wire 69 with a supplementalcontact 6 I. The lower fixed contact 92 is connected by a wire 62 withmagnet coil 63, which is connected by a wire 64 with anothersupplemental contact 65. The armature 66, for the magnet coils 59 and63, is pivoted at 61, and is provided with pole pieces opposite themagnet coils.

An oscillating switch member 68 is mounted so that it can be moved backand forth between the supplemental contacts 6| and 65. For convenienceit is here shown as being mounted about the same pivot as the armature.This oscillating contact is under the control of a spring 69 and itspivot is connected by wire 10 with the supply lead 56. The armature 66may be moved back and forth in an obvious manner by the electromagnets,and in the present embodiment of the invention this swinging armature isinterconnected by suitable mechanism with the clutch controlling shafts31 and 39.

As here shown, an arm 7| extends out from the armature. This arm carriesan end of the spring 69 and is provided with a slot 12 which engages ona pin 13 on an arm 14 carried on a vertical shaft 15. These connectionsare such that the shaft may be rocked when either electromagnet coil isenergized. The shaft 75 is provided with a crosshead 16 which isconnected by arms 1! and 18 with cranks 19 and 80 carried in the lowerends of shafts 31 and 39, respectively.

The electromagnetically controlled devices and supplemental contacts maybe conveniently mounted underneath the platform I5. They may be carriedon a U-shaped frame 8| suitably attached to this platform. The shaft 15is mounted in bearings 82 and 83, while the armature 66 of theelectromagnet may be mounted on a shaft 61 carried by this under-frame.The magnets and supplemental contacts may be mounted on the other sideof the frame 9|, as indicated.

As shown in Figure 3, the contacts 9| and 92 have been closed toenergize the magnet coil 59 which attracts the armature 66 and swingsthe system of oscillating levers and shafts to the position which willcause the motor drive to be disconnected from the lower shaft andconnected to the upper shaft. When the armature is moved into theposition, shown in full lines, the spring 69 will be carried across thecenter 61, about which the switch member 68 is pivoted, and thecontraction of this spring will pull the switch member 68 away from thesupplemental contact 6| and against the supplemental contact 65 therebybreaking the circuit of the magnet coil 59 and closing one of theopenings in the circuit of the magnet coil 63. When the parts are in theposition indicated in Figure 4, both circuits are open; that for themagnet coil 59 being opened between the contact switch member BI andmember 68. and that for the magnet coil 63 being opened between thecontacts 9| and Y92. When the film winds onto the upper roll to thepredetermined amount, the thickened portion I83 on the film will causecontacts 9| and 92 to close and energize magnet coil 63 thereby shiftingthe armature and all the oscillating parts to the other position. Thespring 69 will snap the switch member 68 so as to open the circuit, andassists in providing power to operate the oscillating parts so as toshift the clutches. It also holds the clutches in position after themagnets have been de-energized.

One of the levers, as here shown the lever 84, carries a contact 9|,while a cooperative stationary contact 92 is carried on the end of anarm |93, also insulatively supported from the front end of the machine.Similar contact mechanism may be provided near the other reel tocooperate with the thickened portion |83 at the other end of the film.The movable contacts 9| are, as here shown, connected by wires 93 and 94with the incoming supply lead 51, while the stationary contacts 92 areconnected by wires 95 and 96 with the electromagnetic devices andsupplemental contacts which may be arranged as above described withrespect to Figure 2, the same reference characters being here applied.

When the end of the film is approached one or the other of the thickenedportions |82 and H33 will engage with and actuate the corresponding pairof levers so as to close the adjacent contact. This will energize thecorresponding magnets and cause the shifting of the clutches and openingthe circuits in the same manner as above described.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a simple practicalarrangement has been provided for reversing the winding and rewindingreels so as to carry the film back and forth through the projectionmachine. In the arrangement herein shown the reversal is accomplished bythe passage of some instrumentality such as a cam or thickened portionof the film) past some stationarily carried element (such as a movablecontact) supported adjacent the film where it comes off from the reel.The devices are so arranged that the effective part of theinstrumentality carried by the film may pass by the cooperating elementwithout imposing an excessive load on the film and without any tendencyto destroy or injure the film. Irrespective of whether the device iselectrically or mechanically operated, it will be noted that it is soarranged that automatic operation may be carried out efiectively. Thesmall amount of energy which is available. in the device directly infiuenced by film movement is utilized to set in motion some other morepowerful device for accomplishing the shifting of the clutches. Thepower of the electromagnets is used for shifting the clutches.

It is obvious that the invention may be employed in many forms andconstructions, and I wish it to be understood that the particular formshown is but one of many forms which may be used. Various modificationsand changes being possible, I do not limit myself in any way withrespect thereto. Certain of the constructions herein disclosed areclaimed in other copending applications.

I claim:

1. In combination, a film having a thickened portion therein; a filmhandling apparatus including a support for said film, means for movingsaid film in relation to said support, and operable means movable toaffect the movement of said film in relation to said support; andcontrol mechanism, said control mechanism including two control membersmounted upon said apparatus and extending therefrom in a directionparallel to the side of the film as it is fed in relation to saidsupport, one of said control members being movably mounted, one of saidcontrol members being disposed upon one side of the film and the otherbeing disposed upon the other side thereof and adjacent thereto, aspring for moving said movable control member toward the other thereof,oppositely disposed flanges upon the free end of each of said controlmembers for limiting the movement of said control members in relation toeach other whereby a film or ordinary thickness can be moved between thefree ends of said control members without pressure therefrom and thethickened portion of the film when moved between said free ends servesto move said movable control member away from the film, and operativeconnections between said control member so moved and said operable.

means of said apparatus for operating said operable means upon themovement of said movable control member.

2. In combination, a film having a thickened portion therein; a filmhandling apparatus including a support for said film, means for movingsaid film in relation to said support,,, and operable means movable toafiect the movement of said film in relation to said support; andcontrol mechanism, said control mechanism including two levers pivotallymounted upon said apparatus and extending therefrom in a directionparallel to the side of the film as it is fed in relation to saidsupport, one of said levers being disposed upon one side of the film andthe other being disposed upon the other side thereof and adjacentthereto, a roller mounted at the free end of each of said levers, aspring for moving said levers toward each other, oppositely disposedflanges upon each of said rollers for limiting the movement of saidlevers toward each other whereby a film of ordinary thickness can bemoved between said rollers without pressure therefrom and the thickenedportion of the film when moved between said rollers serves to move atleast one of said levers away from the film, and operative connectionsbetween said lever so moved and said operable means of said apparatusfor operating said operable means by the movement of said movable lever.

3. In combination, a film having a thickened reinforced portion therein;a film handling apparatus including a support for said film, means formoving said film in relation to said support, and operable means movableto affect the movement of said film in relation to said support; andcontrol mechanism, said control mechanism including two control membersmounted upon said apparatus, and extending from said apparatus in adirection parallel to the side of the film as it isfed in relation tosaid support, one of said control members being movably mounted, one ofsaid control members being disposed upon one side of the film and theother being disposed upon the other side thereof and adjacent thereto, aspring for moving said control members toward each other, oppositelydisposed flanges upon the free ends of said control members for limitingthe movement of said control members in relation to each other whereby afilm of ordinary thickness can be moved between the free ends of saidcontrol members without pressure therefrom and the thickened portion ofthe film when moved between said free ends serves to move at least oneof said control members away from the film, an electric circuit one sideof which includes said movable control membena contact member includedin the other side of said circuit and so disposed that the movement ofsaid movable member forms contact therewith whereby said circuit isclosed, and electromagnetic means for operating said operable means ofsaid apparatus upon the closing of said circuit.

4. In a film handling apparatus having filmpath-defining means includinga fixed film guiding member and a movable member arranged for yieldinglypressing the film against said fixed member, in combination, a firstreel, a second reel, said reels being disposed one on each side of saidfilm-path-defining means, means for revolving said reels for winding andrewinding the film between them, means operable for controlling saidrevolving means for changing the direction of movement of the film, saidcontrol means including two cooperating members, at least one of saidcontrol members being movably mounted and disposed on the opposite sideof the film path from the other control member, and means carried by thefilm for actuating said control means, said last named means including amember fastened on one face of the film, said cooperating controlmembers being spaced apart a distance less than the total thickness ofthe film and said actuating member, said actuating member beingefiective to cause relative movement of said cooperating members one tothe other.

5. In a film handling apparatus adapted for use with a film made up of aplurality of lengths joined, one to the other, by film patches, saidapparatus including two film carriers and a yielding film-path-definingmeans positioned between said carriers, the combination of an operablemember of said apparatus to be automatically controlled, apredeterminedly positioned portion of said film formed with a crosssection which is thicker than the cross section of the patched portionsof said film, means for operatively moving said film. through saidapparatus, said control means including two members between which saidfilm is moved, at least one of said members being disposed adjacent thefilm path and arranged for contact with and movement by said thickenedfilm portion for actuatingv said control means, and means cooperatingwith said control means for providing for passing said thickened portionby said control member, said last .named means including meanspermitting movement of said movable control member away from the otherof said control members enough to provide a passageway therebetween forsaid thickened portion.

6. In a film handling apparatus adapted for use with a film made up of aplurality of lengths joined, one to the other, by film patches, saidapparatus having two film carriers between which said film extends, thecombination of operable means for winding and rewinding the film from'one of said carriers to the other, a predeterminedly positioned portionof .said film formed with a' cross section which exceedsv in thicknessthe cross section of patched portions of said film;

control means for said winding and rewinding means, said control meansincluding an electric circuit, a switch in said. circuit, and a memberfor closing and opening said-switch, said member being arranged forcontact with and operable movement by said thickened film portion, and

means cooperating with said control means for passing patched portionsof the film by said switch operating control member without operablymoving the same.

7. In a film handling apparatus, a pair of film winding and rewindingreels, means for revolving said reels for winding and rewinding the filmbetween them, means for controlling said revolving means, and means foractuating said controlling means including at least one predeterminedlypositioned control portion of said film, said portion having a thicknessexceeding that of an ordinary portion of the film, at least one controlmember disposed adjacent the film path for contact with said thickenedfilm portion to be materially moved thereby transversely to said filmpath, and means cooperating with said control member arranged forpermitting movement of said thickened end portion past said controlmember after the same has been operatively moved by said thickenedportion.

8. In a film handling apparatus, a pair of film winding and rewindingreels, means for revolving said reels for winding and rewinding the filmbetween them, means for controlling said revolving means, and means foractuating said controlling means, said last named means including atleast one predeterminedly positioned control portion of the film, saidportion having a thickness exceeding that of an ordinary portion of thefilm, and two control members positioned on opposite sides of the film,at least one of said control members being movable in a direction normalto the film path by said thickened film portion for actuating saidcontrol means.

BARTON A. PROCTOR.

